Automatic pattern control for sewing machines



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. KRAMER EIAL AUTOMATIC PATTERN CONTROL FOR SEWING MACHINES Sept. 9, 1952 Filed March 27, 1948 INVENTORS A0605 .5 mMfA 444% KEAMEE g; 0.1.

ATTQEN Y Sep 1952 A. KRAMER ETAL AUTOMATIC PATTERN CONTROL FOR SEWING MACI'IIIIE'IS Filed March 27. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN T0 7'05 M3154 KPHMEB p 1952 A. KRAMER ETAL ,6

AUTOMATIC PATTERN CONTROL FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 27, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 406145105 KfiAMEE JAC KEG/WEB BY 4 woe/var Sept. 9, 1952 A. KRAMER ETAL AUTOMATIC PATTERN CONTROL FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 27. 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 M H 5 mm M m m wf r w" 4 w i A M Sept. 9, 1952 A. KRAMER HAL 2,609,769

AUTOMATIC PATTERN CONTROL FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed-March 27, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ArmeMe-v Patented Sept. 9, 1952 AUTOMATIC PATTERN CONTROL FOR SEWING MACHINES Augustus Kramer, Brooklyn, and Jack Kramer,

Ozone Park, N. Y., assignors to Kaybe Manufacturing Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a copartnership Appiication March 27, 1948, Serial No. 17,504

21 Claims.

The present invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly to an automatic pattern control for sewing machines of the type used for sewing patterns and other designs on tufted objects such as comforters, mattress tops, and the like. A

The sewing or quilting machine, referred to, comprises essentially a fixed sewing machine head, mounted at or near the center of a large frame. A comforter, mattress top, or'other object to be sewed is mounted near the top of the frame, below the sewing machine needle, in a movable structure, which is formed integral with or attached to a movable carriage, mounted on wheels, which are guided by tracks, or a similar device to enable the movable frame or carriage to be moved in any direction in the horizontal plane, following a slot in the pattern. The pattern, the upper plate of which has a design slot formed therein is supported in the lower frame of the carriage which is moved with relation to a fixed or rotating spindle, fitted into the pattern slot, the spindle being. driven by a speed reducer, which is attached to the main frame, below the needle of the sewing machine, the stitches following a predetermined design precisely along the lines of the slot in the pattern, on the comforter or other object sewed.

While quiltin and comforter machines, as such are old in the art, it has been necessary in most cases, where intricate designs are sewed, to hold the sewing machine head stationary and to move the comforter frame, or other object to be sewed manually, past the needle of the machine, to obtain the intricate patterns desired.

There have been a number of semi-automatic devices of various types built, to enable the object sewed to follow the lines of the pattern, without guidance or control by an operator. Many of these devices have been costly, excessively complicated, and have limited or controlled the range of designs feasible to such an extent, as to seriously limit the scope of the machine.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a machine for sewing designs on comforters, mattress covers or the like in which the object sewed automatically follows the lines formed in the pattern, without the necessity of manual control by an operator, after the sewing operation is started.

A further object is to provide an automatic or semi-automatic pattern control which will accurately reproduce designs on a comforter 'or similar object, with a minimum of manual control or attention by an operator.

2 r A further object is to provide a pattern which is capable of reproducing a wide range andscope of designs, without imposing serious limitations on the pattern designer. v

A further object is to providea machine which once set up and adjusted, can be completely loaded, unloaded and kept in operation over sustained periods by a comparatively unskilled attendant.

A primary object of our invention is to reduce to a minimum the operator fatigue attendant upon continuous manual control of the pattern and the object sewed during the sewing operation.

A further object is to provide a machine and pattern control. in combination, in which the operator can convert the machine from automatic or semiautomatic operation to manual control, and back again to automatic control, at will, in a minimum of time, and with a minimum of interference with the sewing operation.

A further object is to provide a machine and pattern control device which are accurate and in which the design formed in the pattern is followed smoothly and uniformly without interruption or jerking.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine and pattern control device in which the pattern proper can be made in a wide range of designs, at comparatively low cost, and will require little if any attention or repairs over long periods of sustained use.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one major embodiment of our invention, together with the description of the construction, method of adjustment and control thereof, will serve to clarify further objects, advantages and features of our invention, and the results attained therewith.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the complete machine, showing the frame on which the sewing machine head and the pattern control mechanism are mounted, also the moving carriage supporting the comforter or other object to be sewed and the pattern,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, taken at 2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the movable carriage and the tracks supporting it in both directions, the sewing machine head, and the pattern control mechanism.

Fig. 3 represents a vertical section thru the pattern-control sprocket drive mechanism and the pattern, showing the relation between the pattern slot, the pattern follower, and the sprocket control pins, in the pattern. The lever and solenoid controllmecham'smr for pressing the.

pattern control sprocket into engagement with the pattern slot and the control pins are also indicated.

Fig. 4 represents a plan view of the pattern, showing the design guide slot and the sprocket control pins parallel to the design slot.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken at 55, Fig. 3, showing the pattern control sprocket in its relation to the pattern slot, and the control pins.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, taken at 6Ei, Fig. 3, showing the sprocket drive shaft and the key connecting the sprocket drive shaft to the worm gear shaft of the speed-reducer.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section, taken at 1-1, Fig. 1, showing the V-groove pulleys used to guide the circular belts, which drive the sprocket drive speed-reducer from the motor.

Fig. 8 represents a Vertical section thru the pattern taken at 88, of Fig. 4, showing the method of supporting the pattern control pins between the upper and lower pattern plates, the bolts connecting the upper and lower pattern plates, and the automatic cut-out switch, controlled by the bottom of the sprocket shaft.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section thru the pattern, similar to Fig. 8, showing a modified method of attaching the sprocket control pins to the lower pattern plate, and the method of connecting and spacing the upper and lower pattern plates.

Fig. 10 is avertical section thru a manual type of pattern, showing the pattern slots, the spacers and the bolts connecting the upper and lower pattern plates.

Fig. 11 represents a wiring diagram, showing the electrical connections of the various electrical drives and controls of the unit.

The quilting machine, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a frame, at the center of the top of which a sewing machine head is mounted.

A carriage, which is readily movable in both directions in the horizontal plane is mounted on two separate sets of wheels, which are fitted to two pair of rails, the upper rails allowing the wheels to move longitudinally with relation to the-frame, the upper rails in turn, being mounted on another set of wheels, which are fitted to a pair of rails mounted across the bottom of the frame, thus permitting the crosswise movement of the carriage.

The upper end of the movable carriage comprises an open frame, the sides of which support a plurality of clamps by means of which a comforter, mattress top, or other object to be sewed is suspended, immediately below and in constant engagement with the presser foot of the sewing machine head.

On the lower level of the carriage, a pattern consisting of two sheets of steel, or other suitable material, separated by spacers and bolted together, is mounted. The upper sheet has a formed, slot, consisting of two accurate parallel lines out in it, the lines following accurately the design to be sewed on the comforter or other object. Around one edge of the slot a plurality of equally-spaced pins are attached, the diameter and spacing of the pins being determined by the teeth in a sprocket, mounted on a shaft supported by a speed-reducer, which is attached to the center of the frame, below the needle of the sewing machine head. A pattern follower sleeve mounted on the sprocket shaft, below the bottom of the sprocket the diameter of which sleeve is slightly less than the width of the pattern slot is fitted into the pattern slot, to accurately control the movement of the pattern and the comforter or other object, with relation to the needle or" the sewing machine head.

The sprocket, when rotated by the vertical shaft mounted in the speed reducer, which is driven by a continuous circular belt from the same motor which drives the sewing machine head, engages the pattern-control pins, spaced around the edge of the pattern slot, thus causing the carriage to follow the pattern slot and enabling the needle of the sewing machine to sew the parts of the comforter or other object along a line substantially identical with the line of the pattern slot.

A solenoid mechanism, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 is mounted on a bracket supported by a cross-bar, attached to the main frame to press the pattern-follower shaft, and the sprocket mounted on it into engagement with the pattern slot and the control pins respectively, when the solenoid is energized.

If, at any time, the operator desires to go back over an unstitched portion of the pattern, the solenoid may be de-energized, entirely withdrawing the follower sleeve from engagement with the pattern slot, or the sprocket shaft may be raised only high enough to withdraw the sprocket out of engagement with the pins, and still leave the follower sleeve in contact with the pattern slot.

With the follower sleeve in contact with the slot, the operator may manually move the pattern to any point in the slot desired, and restitch a portion of the design, which may have been omitted due to a broken thread or for some other reason.

With the follower sleeve and the sprocket fully withdrawn from the pattern slot and the control pins respectively, the operator may manually move thepattern and carriage past the needle of the sewing machine to add an auxiliary design, or otherwise alter or modify the design sewed on the comforter.

As the motor drives the sewing machine head, and the pattern follower sprocket from opposite ends of the motor shaft, the rotation of the sprocket is synchronized with the operation of the sewing machine at all times.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description of the construction, operation and control of the automatic pattern-control sewing machine, and its various modifications, as well as the following detailed description are intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the various views, except where otherwise specified.

The machine, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, is mounted on a frame ll], consisting of two vertical side members I l and [2, a longitudinal top member i3, and the base supports l4 and. 15.

The sewing machine head I6 is attached to the free end of a tubular bracket H which is, in turn, attached to the top member l3 of the frame, the needle [8 being located at approximately the horizontal center of the frame.

The movable carriage I9 is mounted on four wheels 20 and 2 I, rotatably attached to the lower longitudinal and cross members 22 and 23 of the carriage frame 24 by means of individual brackets 25 and shafts 26, the wheels being either fiat or grooved and fitted to two longitudinal rails 2! and 28, which are attached to the undercarriage 29, movably mounted above the base of the fixed frame.

The longitudinal rails 21 and 28 are, in turn, mounted on four wheels 30 and 3|, each wheel being rotatably attached to the rails by a pair of angle brackets 32 and 33, which are attached to the bottom of the longitudinal rails, the brackets supporting the'axles 34 on which the wheels are mounted. The rail wheels, which are perpendicular to the carriage wheels20 and 2i are also mounted on a pair of cross-rails 35 and 36, the tops of which are either fiat, whereflat wheels are used, or with the upper or track portion machined to form a pair of angular surfaces 3'! and 38 to fit the V-shaped groove 39 formed at the rim of the wheels, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cross-rails may be attached to the base members [4 and I5 of the frame by a pair of cross channels kill .and M or by any other suitable method.

The combination of carriage wheels 20 and 2i, which permit the free movement of the carriage in the longitudinal direction, and the rail wheels 30 and 3!, which permit the longitudinal rails and the carriage mounted on them to move across the frame, allow the movable carriage to be moved in any direction or combination of directions, in the horizontal plane, with a minimum of friction and effort, to follow a design pattern under the sewing machine head.

A comforter 42 comprising two sheets of fabric with a layer or layers of padding between them,

or a mattress cover may be stretched between the longitudinal and side members 43 and. located at opposite sides of the carriage frame by means of a plurality of clamp 45 and 46, located at spaced intervals along the sides and edges of the comforter, or other object, or by other suitable means, below the needle l8 of the sewing machine head.

A pattern 41, constructed of two steel plates, an upper plate 58 and a lower plate 49 or other suitable sheet material, may be, attached to the bottom cross and side members 22 and E3 of the carriage frame, as, indicated in Figures 1 and 2. r

A pattern guide slot 58, framed by two parallel edges 51 and 52, following the design desired, may be cut in the upper plate 48 of the pattern as indicated in Figs. 3, 4, and 8. The upper and lower plates 8 and 69 are uniformly spaced at the desired distance by a plurality of tubular spacers 53 mounted on the bolts 54, located at regular intervals around the edges of 'the pattern, Figs. l and 9 and at various points around the sections 55 and 56, into which the upper sheet of the pattern is divided by the cutting of the pattern slot 50.

Parallel to the slot 5!! in the upper plate of the pattern, a line of pins 58 is located as indicated in Figs. l and 5, the center distance of the pins being substantially equal to the distance between the teeth 59 in the sprocket 60 which is mounted at the bottom of a shaft Bl, r-otatably suspended from a worm gear speed reducer 62 which is attached to a central longitudinal bar 63, the ends of which are attached to the vertical side members II and 12 of the frame, by means of bolts 64, or by other suitable methods.

The pin 58, the upper end of which may be rounded 65 to facilitate meshing with the teeth of the sprocket may be attached to the lower plate 49 of the pattern by means of a screw 66, the body of the pins being fitted to a line of holes 61 formed in the upper plate 48 of the attern, parallel to the slot 59, as indicated in Fig. 9.

In an alternate construction, shown in Figs. 3

and 8. the pins 68 are each formed integral with a central spacer 69, which separates the upper and lower plates of the pattern, a plurality of bolts and nuts 54 being used to connect the two plates. The upper end of the pin 68 is also rounded 65 in the same manner as that of pin 58.

The speed reducer 62, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is driven by a worm Ill, which drives the horizontal worm wheel H, both of which are rotatably mounted in the speed reducer housing 72 and. housing cap 13, which are attached to the central'bar 63 of the frame.

The shaft (ii, at the lower end of which the sprocket 60 is mounted, is keyed at 15 to a tubular shaft 16, Fig. 6, which is mounted at the center of the worm wheel H, and driven by a key 11 which is fitted to the keyways l8 and 19 in thelworm wheel and hollow shaft respectively.

The sprocket 60 which is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 5, is mounted at the bottom of the shaft El, and pinned to the shaft by means of a pinflil. Below the sprocket Elil a hollow cylindrical pattern follower sleeve ti is mounted on the sprocket shaft, the outer diameter of the follower sleeve being slightly smaller than the width of the slot 50, the follower sleeve sliding along the slot 58 and following the pattern contour when the sprocket teeth 59 move the control pins 53, attached to the upper plate of the pattern, thus sliding the pattern on the carriage wheels, along the rails in both directions.

Above the shaft 6| in the speed-reducer housing, a floating shaft extension $2 may be mounted, a ball 83 which fits into a pair of hemispher ical grooves 85 and 85, formed at the top of the shaft and the bottom of the extension respectively, separating the shaft from the extension and allowing the extension to move angularly with relation to the shaft, within a hole 85 formed in a collar 81, which is attached to the upper end of the shaft 6|, by means of the internal threads 88 which fit over the external threads 89 formed at the top of the shaft. The collar 81 is locked to the shaft by means of a taper pin 90 fitted to the collar and the shaft.

The sprocket 60 is moved into engagement with the pins 58 in the pattern by a solenoidactuated mechanism shown in Fig. 3. The shaft extension 82 is attached to one end of a lever Si by means of a nut 92, which fits the threads 93 on the upper end of the shaft extension. The opposite end of the lever is pivotally attached, by means of a pin 34, to a bracket 95 which is supported by the central bar 63 of the frame, and attached thereto.

A solenoid 96 comprising an upper disc 91, a lower disc 98, and a tubular spool 99 may be attached to the central bar 63 of the frame, the coil 100 being wrapped around the tubular spool to enable the solenoid to be energized. A shaft llll, the upper end of which is pivotally attached to the lever 9| by means of a pin N32, is mounted in an opening I03, in the center of the tubular spool.

When the solenoid coil Hill is energized by passing a current through it, the shaft I0! is drawn into the cylindrical opening I63 in the tubular section of the solenoid, thus moving the lever 9i through an angle about the pivot pin 95, and pressin the shaft Bl at the opposite end of the lever, downward, the follower sleeve 8| entering the pattern slot 50 and the sprocket teeth 59 engaging the pins, projecting above the upper pattern plate 48.

The downward movement of the solenoid shaft IOI, when it is attracted by the solenoid coils is limited by a collar I04, attached to or formed integral with the shaft IOI, the collar engaging the top of the upper disc 97 of the solenoid, thus limiting the downward movement of the shaft.

The lower ends of the teeth 59 of the sprocket are rounded, I05 to facilitate engagement with the pins 53 when the sprocket and shaft are pressed downward.

A spring I06. the upper end I01, of which, is pressed against a stud I08, attached to the lower surface of the lever I, and centered by a pin I00, formed integral with the stud, restores the lever I and the sprocket shaft 6| to the position shown in Fig. 3, withdrawing the sprocket and the pattern follower sleeve 8| out of engagement with the control pins and the pattern slot respectively, when the current in the solenoid coils-is shut off. The lower end I III of the spring I06 is supported by a bracket I I I attached to the central bar IE3 and centered by a pin I I2, mounted on the bracket I I I.

A motor H4 is mounted on the base support 55 of the frame, the projections II 5 and IIS of the motor shaft Ill extending outward beyond the forward and rear end of the motor housing, a V-groove pulley H8 and II9 being mounted at the end of each shaft projection,

The worm shaft I of the speed reducer G2 is driven from the motor IE4 by means of a circular belt iZI, which passes over a ii-pulle I22 attached to the worm shaft, then over a pair of idler pulleys I 23 and I24, rotatably mounted on a shaft I25, supported by a bracket I26 attached to or formed integral with the frame central bar 63, thence over another pair of V-pulleys I27 and I28, rotatably mounted on a shaft I29 supported by the lower base of the bracket I 26 as indicated in Figs. 1 and '7, from which the belt passes over the forward motor drive pulley H8.

The sewing machine head I6 is driven by a long shaft I30 which extends through the tubular bracket IT, and is rotatably supported by an extension I3I of the right-hand side member I2 of the frame. The tubular bracket IT, at the forward end of which the sewing machine head It is mounted, is attached to the longitudinal top member I3 of the frame by means of two brackets I32 and I33, bolted or otherwise attached to the top member I3. A V groove pulley I34 mounted near the end of the sewing machine drive shaft I30 is connected by a circular belt I35 to the V-groove pulley H9, mounted at the rear end of the motor shaft.

As both the speed reducer, which drives the pattern-control sprocket shaft 6i and'the sewing machine head drive shaft I30, are driven from the opposite ends of the motor shaft I ll, the pattern movement and the sewing machine operation are kept in synchronism at all times.

The sewing machine shuttle I30 located below the presser foot I37 at the bottom of the sewing machine head, is driven from the sewing machine drive shaft I 30 by a cleat belt I38, which connects a serrated pulley I39, mounted on the sewing machine drive-shaft to a similar serrated pulley I40, attached to one end of a long intermediate shaft I4I, mounted below the needle level of the sewing machine head, Fig. 1. The shuttle shaft I42, which directly drives the shuttle is driven from the intermediate shaft MI, by a pair of gears I43 and I44, one of which is mounted at the right-hand end of the shuttle shaft, and the other attached to the left-hand- 8 end of the intermediate shaft MI. The shuttle I36 and the shuttle drive-shaft I42 form a part of the conventional sewing machine head I6 mounted on the machine. The shuttle drive shaft I42, and the intermediate shaft I4I, are rotatably supported'by a bracket I45, attached to the central frame member 63, as indicated in Fig. 1.

A conventional type of starter switch I46 and a motor controller I4! may be mounted at the side of the vertical frame member I2 to start and regulate the motor.

Before the sewing operation is started, the movable carriage is moved so that the left-hand edge I of the pattern slot is in line with the pattern-follower sleeve 8|, the left hand edge I49 of the comforter or other object being relatively in alignment with the left-hand edge I50 of the pattern.

When the solenoid coil I00 is energized, the left-hand end of the lever 9| and the sprocket shaft are drawn downward, the pattern follower sleeve 8I entering the pattern slot 50, and the sprocket teeth engaging the control pins 58,

. mounted on the pattern plate 48. 7

After the followersleeve is in place in the slot 50 and the sprocket teeth 59 engage the adjacent pattern pins, the motor I I4 is started, thus simultaneously starting the sewing machine shaft and the sprocket drive speed-reducer.

While it is preferable to press the pattern follower BI into the pattern slot, and the sprocket teeth 59 into engagement with the control pins 58 while the sprocket shaft BI is stationary, the solenoid coil I00 may be energized either simultaneously with, or after the motor is started, the sprocket teeth 59 engaging the control pins, while the shaft and sprocket are rotating. If the motor H4, is started slowly and the pattern slot carefully positioned below the sprocket and follower, the sprocket teeth will engage the control pins, thus starting the pattern and the object to be sewed in motion without clashing, due to the free movement of the carriage on the wheels and tracks.

As the sprocket is driven in a clockwise direction, arrow, Fig. 5, by the speed reducer and the motor I I 4, the sprocket teeth, in progressively engaging the control pins 58, move the pattern generally leftward, the pattern sleeve BI accurately sliding along the pattern slot 50, thus synchronizing the movement of the comforter below the needle of the sewing machine head and the design on the pattern, the stitches closely following the design formed by the pattern slot 50 in the upper pattern plate.

Barring thread breakages, or stops for any other reason, the sewing operation continues until the pattern sleeve, after passing through the entire length of the pattern slot 50, returns to the starting point I48 at the left-hand edge of the slot.

At that point the current to the motor H4, driving the sewing machine head and the speed reducer, may be shut off either manually by the operator, or automatically by the addition of a cut-off micro-switch I5I which may be actuated by the lower end I52 of the sprocket shaft 6| when it engages the plunger I53 of the microj switch. Either simultaneously therewith or immediately thereafter, the current to the solenoid coils I00 is shut off, the spring I06 raising the lever SI and the sprocket shaft, until the sprocket is out of engagement with the pattern control pins 58.

Where an intricate pattern having one or more additional pattern slots I54 is used, as indicated in Fig. 4, the operation is repeated until the pattern follower 8| has completely traversed all of the pattern slots 50 and I54 in the upper plate 48 of the pattern, the needle l8 in the sewing machine head'having sewed a seam in the comforter or other object following the lines of the combined pattern slots 50 and I54.

Where, after examination of the stitched comforter, or other object, it is found that some of the stitches have been improperly made, or omitted entirely, the operator may move the pattern slot 50 to the point below the defective portion, energize the solenoid coil I00, start the motor H4 and restitch the defective portion of the comforter or mattress top.

When the distance to be stitched is short, and automatic operation is not desired, the pattern sleeve may be kept in engagement with the patternslot 50, with the sprocket withdrawn out of engagement with the control pins, and the pattern moved manually along the slot, the comforte'r stitching following the lines of the pattern.

Where'a special pattern or special initials are desired on a comforter, or mattress top, the sprocket and the pattern sleeve may be withdrawn completely out of engagement with the slot and the pins respectively. The movable carriage may then be manually moved by the operator, either by eye, or following an auxiliary pattern, similar to the plain pattern I55, shown in Fig. 10, which'may be mounted above the pattern 41, on the movable carriage, or in its place.

The plain pattern I55 shown in Fig. 10, is

similar to the automatic pattern shown in Figs. 8 and 9, except that the control pins 58 and 68 have been eliminated.

The plain pattern, Fig. 10, is also constructed of two steel plates I55 and Nil, pattern slots 55 and l54 being formed in the upper plate in the manner previously described. The upper and lower plates may be spaced at the desired distance by a plurality of tubular spacers 53,

mounted on the bolts 54, spaced around the edges of the pattern plates, and at selected points in the sections 55 and 55, into which the upper plate I45, of the pattern is divided, so that all sections of the upper plate of the pattern are located at the same horizontal level, the height of the parallel edges El and 52 of the slots, matching one another. I

The pattern follower 3i, used with the plain pattern is similar to that shown in Fig. 3, and may be similarly mounted at the bottom of the shaft 5i. When used with a plain pattern, the sprocket 55 may be omitted from the follower shaft, although it is preferable to leave it on the shaft so. that the same pattern follower and shaft can be used interchangeably with the automatic patterns, shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and the plain pattern of Fig. 10.

Fig. 11 shows a specimen wiring diagram of the various portions of the apparatus, as well as a schematic drawing of the drives to the sewing machine and the sprocket drive speed reducer.

The current enters the starter switch I45 from the power line 60 after which it passes thru the motor controller I47, thence along the line I6I to the motor H4. One leg I62 of the line runs from the motor to the cut-out micro-switch I5I, attached to the lower pattern plate. From the micro-switch, the return line I63 is connected to the line I54, which runs to the return terminal of the motor-controller, thence back to the starter switch, thus completing the main circuit.

A branch line I65 runs from the motor line IBI to the solenoid coil I80, from which the line the unit may be utilized:

In one method the solenoid coil 1% is'en ergized by pressing the solenoid button I58, thus dropping the sprocket shaft downward, as pre viously described. The motor itself may be started by means of the starterswitch I45 and the controller 41, thus driving the speed reducer and the sprocket shaft, also the sewing machine shaft, as hereinbefore described.

When the sprocket shaft returns to the start: ing point in the slot 56, as indicated in Figs. 2, and 8, the bottom of the shaft 6!, presses against the plunger I53, of the micro-switch I 5!, thus shutting off the power to the motor and the solenoid coil, simultaneously stopping the sewing machine and the sprocket shaft, and permitting the spring to withdraw the pattern follower and the sprocket out of engagement with the slot 5i! in the pattern, and the pattern pins (58) respectively,v as previously indicated. I

In the other method, the motor may be started by means of the. starter switch I45 and the controller it! in the conventional manner, after which the solenoid switch I53 may be closed, thus pressing the sprocket shaft BI downward, the pattern follower 8|, entering the pattern slot 55, the sprocket teeth entering into engagement with the pattern pins 58, and starting the pattern in motion.

In this method of starting care must be exercised in dropping the pattern follower into the pattern slot, and the sprocket into engagement with the pattern pins, to avoid injury to the pins and pattern slot by the rotating sprocket.

Under normal operating conditions the current.

may be shut off by the micro-switch IEI, located at the end of the pattern slot 55, or by shutting off the motor starter switch.

The solenoid 96 may be placed in one of several positions, to directly or indirectly press the sprocket shaft downward, so that the pattern follower sleeve may enter the pattern slot, and the sprocket teeth engage the pattern control pins. In place of the solenoid, a hydraulic mechanism, or a fully mechanical apparatus may be substituted to accomplish the same purpose, without altering the essentials of the operations. Full automatic or semi-automatic controls may be provided on the main motor, and the solenoid to time and regulate the operation of the sewing machine so that the operation of the needle starts after the follower sleeve is dropped into engagement with the pattern slot, and the teeth in the sprocket engage the pattern control pins.

An automatic control may also be provided. so that if for any reason the thread in the needle breaks, or becomes entangled, the motor switch would be automatically cut oil and the solenoid de-energized so that the sewing machine would stop, and the follower sleeve would be simultaneously withdrawn from the pattern slot, thus arresting the movement of the pattern. In this manner the sewing operation may be restarted at the point where it left off, after the needle is rethreaded, and the follower sleeve and sprocket restored into engagement with the patll tern slot and the control pins respectively, at approximately the point in the pattern slot from which they were removed.

Various modifications of the pattern construotion may be made without altering the essentials of operation of the mechanism hereinbefore described.

In place of the single motor belted to the sewing machine drive-shaft, and the worm shaft of the speed reducer, individual, electricallysynchronized motors may be mounted on both the sewing machine head and the speed reducer, thus electrically-synchronizing the movement of the sewing machine and the speed reducer, driving the sprocket shaft.

It would also be possible to utilize variablespeed D. C. motors and electronically convert from A. C. to D. C. by using thyratron tubes, or a similar method. a

It will, accordingly, be appreciated that the automatic pattern control for sewing machines I herein described, has new and useful constructional and operational features offering distinct advantages over machines of the conventional type. It will, moreover, be understood that the foregoing description of the construction, operation and the results attained with the machine and the pattern mechanism, in their various modifications, is illustrative, and that various changes can be made therein, without departing from the essentials of the invention which is, rather, defined by the appended claims.

What we claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A pattern for guiding fabric" objects under a sewing machine comprising two plates, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots out therethru, a plurality of pins passing thru the upper plate, parallel to one edge of each of said design slots, a clear gap being provided between the exposed sections of adjacent pins, means connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate, means attaching the pins to one of said plates, and means separating the sections of the upper plate from the lower plate.

2. A pattern for guiding fabric objects under a sewing machine comprising two plates, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots out therethru, a plurality of pins passing thru the upper plate, parallel to one edge of each of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, means for attaching said pins to the lower plate, means connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate, and a plurality of spacers of substantially equal height separating the sections of the upper plate from thelower plate.

3. A pattern for guiding fabric objects under a sewing machine comprising two plates, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethru, a plurality of pins passing thru the upper plate, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of spacers formed integral with said pins, separating the sections of the upper plate from the lower plate, said spacers being of substantially equal height, and means connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate.

4; A pattern for guiding fabric objects under a sewing machine comprising two plates, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethru, a plurality of pins passing thru the upper plate, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, means for attaching said pins to the lower plate, a plurality of bolts connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate, and a plurality of spacers of substantially equal height mounted on said bolts, separating the sections of the upper. plate from the lower plate.

5. Afabric sewing machine comprising a frame", a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said. frame, means for guiding the longitudinal move-- ment of said carriage, means for guiding the. transverse movement of said carriage, supports; for a fabric object mounted near the top of said. carriage under the needle of said sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage sub.- stantially parallel to the plane of said supports, a plurality of design slots formed in the upper portion of said pattern, rotating means substantially in alignment with the needle of said sewing machine mounted above said pattern, a rotating pattern follower driven by said rotating means, fittingthe design slots in said pattern, and a. plurality of spaced pins projecting beyond the upper surface of said pattern, parallel to one edge of each of the design slots, means attaching the pins to the pattern, a toothed sprocket mounted. on said rotating means, concentric with the pattern follower, said sprocket engaging the pins to move the carriage along the design slots, the needle sewing a seam substantially in accordance with the design slots in said pattern, said follower and sprocket being readily removable from the design slots and the pins, respectively, at any point along said slots, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pattern, without'disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotating meansi 6'. A- fabric sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a shaft driving said machine rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for guiding the transverse movement of said carriage, supports for a fabric object mounted near the top of said carriage under the needle of said sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage substantially parallel to the plane of said sup ports, the upper portion of said pattern having a plurality of design slots formed therein, rotating means supported by said frame substantially in alignment with the needle of said sewing machine, a motor mounted in the base of said frame, means for simultaneously driving the sewing machine drive shaft and said rotating means from said motor, a rotating pattern follower, driven from said rotating means, fitting the design slots in said pattern, and a plurality of equally spaced pins projecting beyond, the upper surface of said pattern, parallel to one edge of each of the design slots, and in spaced relation thereto, means attaching the pins to the pattern, a toothed sprocket mounted on said rotating means, concentric with the pattern follower, said sprocket engaging the pins to move the carriage along the design slots, the needle sewing a seam substantially in accordance with the design slots in said pattern, said follower and sprocket bein readily removable from the design slots and the pins, respectively, at any point along said slots, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pattern, without disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotating means.

7. A fabric-sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a shaft driving said machine rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation tosaid frame, means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for guiding the transverse movement of said carriage,:

supports for a fabric object mounted near th top of said carriage under the needle of said sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage, substantially parallel to the plane of, said supports, theupper portion of said pattern having a plus rality of design slots formed therein, a speed reducer supported by said frame, a rotatable shaft depending from said speed reducer, substantially in alignment With the needle of said sewing machine, a motor mounted in the base of said frame, means for simultaneously driving said sewing machine drive shaft and said speed reducer from saidmotor, a rotating pattern followe attached to said 'speed, reducer shaft, fitting the design slots in said pattern, and a plurality of substantially cylindrical pins projecting beyond the upper surface of said pattern, parallel to one edge of each of the design slots, means attaching the pins to the pattern, a toothed sprocket mounted on said rotatable speed reducer shaft, concentric with the pattern follower, said sprocket engaging thepins to move the carriage along the design slots, a clear gap being provided between the exosed portion of adjacent pins, the needle sewing a seam substantially in accordance with the clesign slots in said pattern, said sprocket and follower being manually removablefrom the design slotsand the pins respectively, in a direction parallel to the pin axis, without disturbing the lateral position ofthe follower and the rotatable speed reducer shaft.

8. A fabric sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a shaft driving said machine rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage; means for guiding the transverse movement of said carriage, a plurality of supports for a fabric object mounted near the top of said carriage under the needle of said sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage substantially parallel to the plane of said supports, the upper portion of said patternhaving a plurality of design slots formed therein, a plurality of pins attached to said pattern plate, parallel to said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, rotating means suppQrted by said frame substantially in alignment with the needle of said sewing machine, a sprocket driven bysaid rotating means operatively engaging said pattern pins to move the pattern and carriage along-the design slots, means moving said sprocket in a plane parallel to the pin axis intoselective engagement with said pins, a motor mounted in the base of said frame, means for simultaneously driving said sewing machine drive shaft andsaid rotating means from said motor, a rotating pat-,

tern follower, driven from said rotating means;

fitting the design slots in said pattern, and a plurality of substantially cylindrical pins projecting beyond the upper surface of said pattern, said pins being parallel to one edge of the design slots, and in spaced relation thereto, meansgattaching the pins to the pattern, a toothed sprocket mounted on said rotating means, concentric with the pattern follower, said sprocket engaging the pins to move the carriage along the design slots, theneedle sewing a seam substantially in accordance with the design slots in said pattern, said follower and sprocket being readily removable from thedesign slots and the pins respectively, at any point along said slots, in a plane substantially 14 parallel to the pattern pins, without disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotating means.

9. A fabric sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a shaft driving said machine rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for guiding the transverse movement of said carriage, supports for a fabric object mounted near the top of said carriage under the needle of said sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage substantially parallel to the plane of said supports, the upper portion of said pattern having a plurality of design slots formed therein, a plurality of substantially cylindrical, equally spaced pins attached to said pattern, parallel to said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, a clear gap being provided between the exposed portion of adjacent pins, a speed reducer supported by said frame, a rotatable shaft depending from said speed reducer, substantially in alignment with the needle of said sewing machine, a' sprocket driven by said speed reducer operatively engaging said pattern pins to move the pattern and carriage along the design slots, a motor mounted in the base of said frame,

means for simultaneously driving said sewing machine drive shaft and said speed reducer from said, motor, and a rotating pattern follower attached' to said speed reducer shaft concentric with said' sprockets, the follower fitting the design slots in said pattern, the needle sewing a seam substantially in accordance with the design slots in said pattern, said sprocket and follower being manually removable from the: design slots and the pins respectively, in a direction parallel to the pin axis, without disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotatable speed reducer shaft.

10. A fabric sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, ashaft driving said machine rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for guiding the transverse movement of said carriage, means adapted to support a fabric object mounted near the top of said carriage under the needle of the sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage, substantially parallel to the plane of said support means, said pattern comprising two plates, separated by spacers, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethru, a plurality of substantially cylindrical pins passing thru the upper plate of said pattern, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relationthereto, a speed reducer supported by said frame, a rotatable shaft depending from, said speed reducer, substantially in alignment with the needle ofsaid sewing, machine, a sprocket mounted on said shaft, the teeth in said sprocket engaging the pattern pins to move the pattern and the movable carriage along a path following the design slots, means moving said sprocket in a plane parallel to the pin axis, into selective engagementwith said pins, apattern follower mounted on said shaft, fitting the design slots in said pattern plate, the exposed end of each of said pins being rounded to readily clear the teeth of the sprocket, when the sprocket is moved into the operating position, means for driving said sew- I ing machine shaft and said speed reducer, and

means for co-ordinating the rotation of the sewing machine drive-shaft with the speed reducer, said sprocket and follower co-operating to move the fabric object under the needle of the machine, the needle sewing a seam substantially following the design slots in the pattern, said sprocket and follower being readily removable from the design slots and the pins respectively, in a direction parallel to the pin axis, without disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotatable speed reducer shaf 11. A fabric sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached tosaid frame, a shaft driving said machine rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, means adapted to support a fabric object mounted near the top of said carriage under the needle of the sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage, substantially parallel to the plane of said support means, said pattern, comprising two plates, separated by spacers, the upper plate having a plurality of equally spaced design slots out therethru, a plurality of pins passing thru the upper plate of said pattern, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, a speed reducer supported by said frame, a rotatable shaft depending from said speed reducer, substantially concentric with the needle ,5

of said sewing machine, a sprocket mounted on said shaft, the teeth in said sprocket engaging the pattern pins to move the pattern and the movable carriage along a path following the design slots, a pattern follower mounted on said shaft, fitting the design slots in said pattern plate, means moving said pattern follower and sprocket into engagement with the design slots and pattern pins respectively, in a plane perpendicular to the pattern plates, the exposed end of each of said pins being rounded to readily clear the teeth of the sprocket, when the sprocket is moved into the operating position, means for driving the sewing machine shaft and the speed reducer, and means for co-ordinating the rotation of the sewing machine drive-shaft with the speed-reducer, said sprocket and follower co-operating to move'the support means with relation to the needle of the machine, the needle sewing a seam, substantially following the design slots in the pattern plate, said sprocket and follower being manually removable from the design slots and the pins respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the pattern plates, without disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotatable speed reducer shaft.

12. A fabric sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a shaft driving said machine rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, means adapted to support a fabric object mounted near the top of said carriage under the needleof the sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage, substantially parallel to the plane of said support means, said pattern comprising two plates, separated by spacers, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethru, a plurality of substantially cylindrical pins passing thru the upper plate of said pattern, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, the space between the exposed ends of adjacent pins being clear, a speed reducer supported by said frame, a rotatable shaft depending from said speed reducer, substantially concentric with the needle of said sewing machine, a sprocket mounted on said shaft, the spacing of the teeth in said sprocket being substantially equal to the spacing of the pattern pins, the teeth in said sprocket engaging the pattern pins to move the pattern and the movable carriage along a path following the design slots, a pattern follower mounted on said shaft, fitting the design slots in said pattern plate, means moving the follower and sprocket into engagement with the design slots and the pattern pins, respectively, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the pattern plates, a motor mounted on said frame, means for driving said sewing machine shaft and said speed reducer from said motor, and means for co-ordinating the rotation of the sewing machine drive-shaft with the speed-reducer, said sprocket and follower co-operating'to move the support means with relation to the needle of the machine, the needle sewing a seam, substantially following the design slots in the pattern plate, said sprocket and follower being readily removable from the design slots and the pins respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the pattern plates, without disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotatable speed reducer shaft.

13. A fabric sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a shaft driving said sewing machine rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for guiding the transverse movement of said carriage, supports for a fabric object demountably attached to the frame of said carriage, under the needle of the sewing machine, a pattern attached to the carriage, substantially parallel to the fabric object, said pattern comprising two plates separated by spacers, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethru, a plurality of equally spaced pins passing thru the upper plate of the pattern, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, a rotatable shaft mounted above the pattern, substantially concentric with the needle of the sewing machine, a sprocket mounted on said shaft, the spacing of the teeth in said sprocket being substantially equal to the spacing of the pattern pins, the teeth in said sprocket engaging the pattern pins to move the pattern and the movable carriage along a path following the design slots, a pattern follower mounted on said shaft, fitting the design slots in said pattern plate, means moving said pattern follower and sprocket into engagement with the design slots and the pattern pins respectively, in a plane perpendicular to the pattern plates, means for driving said sewing machine shaft and sprocket shaft, and means for co-ordinating the rotation of the sewing machine drive shaft with the sprocket shaft, said sprocket and follower co-operating to move said supports with relation to the needle of the sewing machine, the needle sewing a seam, substantially following the design slots in the pattern plate, said sprocket and follower being readily removable from the design slots and the pins respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the pattern plates, without disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotatable shaft.

14. A fabric sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a shaft driving said sewing machine rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage mov- 17 ably mounted with relation to said frame, means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for guiding the transverse'movement of said carriage, means adapted to support a fabric object demountably attached to the frame of said carriage, under the needle of the sewing machine, a pattern attached to the carriage, substantially parallel to the fabric object, said pattern comprising two plates separated by spacers, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethru, a plurality of sub stantially cylindrical pins passing thru the upper plate of the pattern, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, means attaching the pins to one of said plates, means connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate, a rotatable shaft mounted above the pattern, substantially concentric with theneedle of the sewing machine, a sprocket mounted on said shaft, the spacing of the teeth in said sprocket being substantially equal to the spacing of the pattern pins, the teeth in said sprocket engaging the pattern pins to move the pattern and the movable carriage along a path following the design slot, appattern follower mounted on said shaft, fitting the design slots in said pattern plate, electrically controlled means moving said pattern follower and sprocket into engagement with the design slots and the pattern pins respectively, in a direction substantially parallel to the pin axis, the exposed end of each of said pins being rounded to clear the sprocket teeth, when the sprocket is moved into the operating position, a motor mounted on said frame, means for driving said sewing machine shaft and sprocket shaft from the motor, and means for synchronizing the rotation of the sewing machine drive shaft with the sprocket shaft, said sprocket and follower co-operating to move the support means with relation to the needle of the sewing machine, the needle sewing a seam, substantially following the design slots in the pattern plate, said sprocket and follower being readily removable from the design slots and the pins respectively, in a direction parallel to the l pin axis, without disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotatable shaft.

15. A fabric sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to, said frame, a shaft driving said sewing machine rotatably supported by said frame; a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, clamps adapted to support a fabric object demountably attached to the frame of said carriage, under the needle of the sewing machine, a pattern attached to the carriage, substantially parallel to the plane of said clamps, said pattern comprising two plates separated by spacers, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethru, a plurality of pins passing thru the upper plate of the pattern, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, a rotatable shaft mounted above the pattern, substantially concentric with the needle of the sewing machine, a sprocket l mounted on said shaft, the spacing of the teeth spectively, a motor driving said sewing machine shaft and sprocket shaft, means for synchronizing the rotation of the sewing machine drive shaft with the sprocket shaft, and a plurality of switches mounted on the pattern, each switch being in alignment with a point in the respective design slot, said switch automatically shutting off the power to the motor when the design slot has been traversed by the pattern follower.

16. A fabric design sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head, attached to said frame, a shaft driving the sewing machine, rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, means adapted to support a fabric object demountably supported near the top of said carriage under the needle of the sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage, substantially parallel to the plane of said support means, said pattern comprising two plates, the upper, plate having a plurality of design slots out therethru, a plurality of pins passing thru the upper plate, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of spacers formedintegral with said pins, separating the sections of the upper plate from the lower plate, said spacers being of substantially equal height, means connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate, a rotating shaft mounted between the pattern and the fabric object, substantially concentric with the needle of the sewing machine, a pattern follower fitting the design slots in said pattern mounted on said shaft, a sprocket mounted on said shaft, the spacing of the teeth in said sprocket being substantially equal to the spacing of the pattern pins, said sprocket teeth engaging the pattern pins tomove the pattern and the movable carriage along a path following the design slot in the pattern plate, means for placing said pattern follower and sprocket into engagement with the design slot and the pattern pins respectively, means for driving the sewing sprocket shaft, means for co-ordinating the rotation of the sewing machine drive-shaft with the sprocket shaft, said sprocket and follower co-operating to move the support means with relation to the needle of the sewing machine, the needle sewing a seam substantially following the design slots in the pattern plate.

1'7. A fabric design sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a shaft driving the sewing machine, rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage, means for guiding the transverse movement of said carriage, clamps adapted to support a fabric object demountably supported near the top of said carriage under the needle of the sewing machine, a pattern attached to said carriage,substantially parallel to the plane plurality of spacers separating the sections of the upper plate from the lower plate, said spacers being of substantially equal height, means connecting the sections of the upper plate to the machine shaft and the,

lower plate, a rotating shaft mounted between the pattern and the fabric object, substantially concentric with the needle of the sewing machine, a sprocket mounted on said shaft, the spacing of the teeth in said sprocket being substantially equal to the spacing of the pattern pins, the teeth of the sprocket engaging the pattern pins, to move the pattern and the carriage along the design siots, a pattern follower fitting the design slots in said pattern mounted on said shaft, electrically controlled means moving said pattern follower into engagement with the design slots, in a plane parallel to the pin axis, means for driving the sewing machine shaft and the pattern follower shaft, means for co-ordinating the rotation of the sewing machine driveshaft with the pattern follower shaft, said pattern follower guiding the movement of the clamp-s with relation to the needle of the sewing machine, the needle sewing a seam substantially following the design slots in the pattern plate, said sprocket and follower being readily removable from the design slots and the pins, respectively, in a direction parallel to the pin axis, without disturbing the lateral position of the follower and the rotating shaft.

18. A fabric design sewing machine comprising a frame, a sewing machine head attached to said frame, a shaft driving the sewing machine, rotatably supported by said frame, a carriage movably mounted with relation to said frame, clamps adapted to support a fabric object demountably supported near the top of said carriage under the needle of the sewing machines, a pattern attached to said carriage, substantially parallel to the plane of said clamps, said pattern comprising two plates, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots out therethru, a plurality of pins passing thru the upper plate, parallel to one edge of said design slots and in spaced relation thereto, means for attaching said pins to the lower plate, a plurality of bolts connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate, a plurality of spacers of substantially equal height mounted on said bolts, a rotating shaft mounted between the pattern and the plane of the clamps, substantially concentric with the needle of the sewing machine, a pattern follower fitting the design slots in said pattern mounted on said shaft, a

sprocket mounted on said shaft, the spacing of the teeth in said sprocket being substantially equal to the spacing of the pattern pins, said sprocket teeth engaging the pattern pins to move the pattern and the movable carrriage along a path following the design slots in the pattern plate, means for placing said pattern follower and sprocket into engagement with the design slots and the pattern pins respectively, means for driving the sewing machine shaft and the sprocket shaft, means for co-ordinating the rotation of the sewing machine drive shaft with the sprocket shaft, said sprocket and follower co-operating to move the carriage and clamps with relation to the needle of the sewing machine, the needle sewing a seam substantially following the design slots in the pattern plate.

19. A pattern for guiding fabric objects under a sewing machine, comprising two plates, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethrough, a plurality of pins passing through the upper plate, parallel to one edge of each of said design slots, and in spaced relation thereto, means attaching said pins to one of the plates, a clear gap bein provided between the exposed portions of adjacent pins, and means connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate.

20. A pattern for guiding fabric objects under a sewing machine, comprising two plates, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethrough, a plurality of substantially cylindrical pins passing through the upper plate, parallel to one edge of said design slots, and in spaced relation thereto, means attaching said pins to one of the pattern plates, a clear gap being provided between the exposed portions of adjacent pins, and means connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate.

21. A pattern for guiding fabric objects under a sewing machine, comprising two plates, the upper plate having a plurality of design slots cut therethrough, a plurality of substantially cy1in drical, equally-spaced pins passing through the upper plate, parallel to one edge of each of said design slots, and in spaced relation thereto, the exposed end of each of said pins being rounded, means attaching said pins to the lower plate, and a plurality of bolts connecting the sections of the upper plate to the lower plate.

AUGUSTUS KRAMER. JACK KRAMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 970,455 Auble et al Sept. 20, 1910 2,222,287 Ford Nov. 19, 1940 2,236,421 Boettcher Mar. 25, 1941 

